Helleborus plant named ‘COSEH 5600’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Helleborus  plant named ‘COSEH 5600’, characterized by its upright and mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; single yellow green, white and purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Helleborus niger x Helleborus x hybridus.

Cultivar denomination: ‘COSEH 5600’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Helleborus Plant Named ‘COSEH 5700’

Applicant: Josef Heuger

Plant patent application Ser. No. 16/602,738

Title: Helleborus Plant Named ‘COSEH 5900’

Applicant: Josef Heuger

Plant patent application Ser. No. 16/602,735

Title: Helleborus Plant Named ‘COSEH 6900’

Applicant: Josef Heuger

Plant patent application Ser. No. 16/602,736

Title: Helleborus Plant Named ‘COSEH 7100’

Applicant: Josef Heuger

Plant patent application Ser. No. 16/602,734

Title: Helleborus Plant Named ‘COSEH 7500’

Applicant: Josef Heuger

Plant patent application Ser. No. 16/602,737

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Helleborus plant, botanically known as Helleborus niger x Helleborus x hybridus and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘COSEH 5600’.

The new Helleborus plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Glandorf, Germany. The objective of the breeding program was to create new uniform Helleborus plants with unique and attractive plant habit, leaf and flower coloration and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress.

The new Helleborus plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in Glandorf, Germany in October, 2011 of a unnamed selection of Helleborus niger, not patented, as the female, or seed patent and an unnamed selection of Helleborus x hybridus, not patented, as the male, or pollen parent. The new Helleborus plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouse environment in Glandorf, Germany in November, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Helleborus plant by divisions in a controlled environment in Glandorf, Germany since March, 2014 has shown that the unique features of this new Helleborus plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Helleborus have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘COSEH 5600’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘COSEH 5600’ as a new and distinct Helleborus plant:

-   -   1. Upright and mounded plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Single yellow green, white and purple-colored flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Helleborus differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Helleborus are darker green than         leaves of plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Helleborus have yellow green, white and         purple-colored flowers whereas plants of the female parent         selection have white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Helleborus differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Helleborus have fewer leaves than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Helleborus have yellow green, white and         purple-colored darker green-colored flowers whereas plants of         the male parent selection have red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Helleborus can be compared to plants of Helleborus niger x Helleborus x hybridus ‘COSEH 5700’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently. Plants of the new Helleborus differ primarily from plants of ‘COSEH 5700’ in flower color as plants of the new Helleborus have yellow green, white and purple-colored flowers whereas plants of ‘COSEH 5700’ have red purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Helleborus can be compared to plants of Helleborus niger x Helleborus x hybridus ‘COSEH 5900’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently. Plants of the new Helleborus differ primarily from plants of ‘COSEH 5900’ in flower color as plants of the new Helleborus have yellow green, white and purple-colored flowers whereas plants of ‘COSEH 5900’ have white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Helleborus can be compared to plants of Helleborus niger x Helleborus x hybridus ‘COSEH 6900’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently. Plants of the new Helleborus differ primarily from plants of ‘COSEH 6900’ in flower color as plants of the new Helleborus have yellow green, white and purple-colored flowers whereas plants of ‘COSEH 6900’ have light yellow green-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Helleborus can be compared to plants of Helleborus niger x Helleborus x hybridus ‘COSEH 7100’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently. Plants of the new Helleborus differ primarily from plants of ‘COSEH 7100’ in flower color as plants of the new Helleborus have yellow green, white and purple-colored flowers whereas plants of ‘COSEH 7100’ have red purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Helleborus can be compared to plants of Helleborus niger x Helleborus x hybridus ‘COSEH 7500’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently. Plants of the new Helleborus differ primarily from plants of ‘COSEH 7500’ in flower color as plants of the new Helleborus have yellow green, white and purple-colored flowers whereas plants of ‘COSEH 7500’ have white to light yellow green-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Helleborus can also be compared to plants of Helleborus niger x Helleborus x hybridus ‘LEM 100’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,646. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Helleborus differ primarily from plants of ‘LEM 100’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Helleborus are lighter green in         color than leaves of plants of ‘LEM 100’.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Helleborus are yellow green,         white and purple in color whereas flowers of plants of ‘LEM 100’         are red purple in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Helleborus plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Helleborus plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 of 2) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘COSEH 5600’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 of 2) is a close-up view of a typical flower and leaves of ‘COSEH 5600’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during December in 17-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Glandorf, Germany and under cultural practices typical of commercial Helleborus production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 12° C. to 32° C. and night temperatures ranged from 5° C. to 12° C. Plants were 14 months old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Helleborus niger x Helleborus x hybridus     ‘COSEH 5600’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed selection of Helleborus             niger, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed selection of Helleborus x             hybridus, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—In vitro axillary meristem culture.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 55 days at             temperatures about 12° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 170 days             at temperatures ranging from 4° C. to 15° C.         -   Root description.—Thick to thin, fleshy; typically white to             brown in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Low branching; sparse. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; upright and             mounding plant habit with flowers held within and above the             foliar plane; plant shape, roughly flattened globular;             moderately vigorous growth habit and low to moderate growth             rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 17.6             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of flowers.—About 28.3 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 30.2 cm. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Leaves arranged in a basal rosette; leaves             palmately compound with typically seven or occasionally five             leaflets per leaf.         -   Leaf length.—About 12 cm.         -   Leaf width.—About 14.6 cm.         -   Leaflet length.—About 7.5 cm.         -   Leaflet width.—About 4.7 cm.         -   Leaf shape.—Palmate; reniform in outline.         -   Leaflet shape.—Ovate to broadly ovate, broadly elliptic or             broadly obovate.         -   Leaflet apex.—Acute.         -   Leaflet base.—Attenuate.         -   Leaflet margin.—Serrate; slightly undulate.         -   Leaflet texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             leathery; moderately glossy.         -   Leaflet texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             leathery; slightly glossy.         -   Leaflet venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Leaflet color.—Developing leaflets, upper surface: Close to             137B; midvein tinged proximally, close to 178B. Developing             leaflets, lower surface: Close to 147B; midvein tinged with             close to 177B. Fully developed leaflets, upper surface:             Darker than between 139A and 147A; proximally, close to             200A; venation, close to 147B. Fully developed leaflets,             lower surface: Close to 144B; venation, close to 145A.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 10.4 cm. Diameter: About 5.5 mm to             7 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 144B; moderately covered with             fine dots, close to 177B and 200A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower shape and habit.—Single rotate flowers; flowers             slightly to moderately cupped; arranged solitary or in             clusters with about six flowers each; freely flowering habit             with about 24 flowers developing per plant; flowers face             mostly outwardly to slightly nodding or slightly upright.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about ten             months after planting; plants flower from the late autumn             into the winter in Germany.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About three to four months;             sepals persistent, other flower parts are not persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.6 cm. Diameter: About 1.3 cm.             Shape: Narrowly ovate to ovate. Texture and luster: Smooth,             glabrous; matte. Color: Close to between 145C and 157B.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 26.8 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 13.6 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 8 cm by 8 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 2.7 cm.         -   Petals.—All petals are transformed into nectaries.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: About five, arranged in a             single whorl. Length: About 4.2 cm. Width: About 4.5 cm.             Shape: Broadly ovate to close to reniform, slightly concave.             Apex: Obtuse. Base: Truncate to rounded. Margin: Entire;             slightly undulate. Texture and luster, upper surface:             Smooth, glabrous; matte. Texture and luster, lower surface:             Smooth, glabrous; matte to slightly glossy. Color: When             opening, upper surface: Close to NN155C and distally, close             to N155B; towards the margins and venation, close to 75A.             When opening, lower surface: Close to NN155B; towards the             margins and venation, tinged with close to N74C. Fully             opened, upper surface: Close to NN155B to NN155C; towards             the margins, close to 75B to 75C; with development, colors             becoming closer to 145D and towards the margins and apex,             close to 145A; proximally tinged with close to 75B. Fully             opened, lower surface: Close to NN155B; towards the margins             and venation, close to N74D; with development, colors             becoming closer to 144B and 145A and towards the margins and             base, tinged with close to 70B and N186D; venation, close to             71A and 71B.         -   Flower bracts.—Quantity per flower: Typically one or two.             Length: About 5.6 cm. Width: About 3.3 cm. Shape: Ovate to             broadly ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin:             Distally, shallowly dentate to serrate to serrate;             proximally, entire; coarsely undulate. Color, upper surface:             Close to 137B; venation, close to 137A. Color, lower             surface: Close to 138B; venation, close to 177A to 177B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 15.7 cm. Diameter: About 7.5 mm to             8 mm. Aspect: About 15° from vertical. Strength: Strong.             Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy.             Color: Close to 146D; heavily and finely dotted, close to             184A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2.3 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Aspect: About 10° from peduncle axis. Strength: Moderately             strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately             glossy. Color: Close to 145A; proximally, tinged with close             to 152D.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower:             About 140. Filament length: About 1.6 cm. Filament color:             Close to NN155C. Anther shape: Double and broadly reniform;             basifixed. Anther size: About 2 mm by 2 mm. Anther color:             Close to 150C. Pollen amount: Scarce to moderate. Pollen             color: Close to 4D. Pistils: Quantity per flower: About             seven to ten. Pistil length: About 1 cm. Stigma diameter:             About 0.3 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close             to 150D. Style length: About 9 mm. Style color: Close to             63C; proximally, close to 69D. Ovary color: Close to 150D.             Nectaries (transformed petals): Quantity per flower:             About 13. Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Shape:             Tubular, moderately flattened. Texture and luster, inner and             outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color,             immature, inner and outer surfaces: Close to 144B and             towards the base, close to 146D. Color, mature, inner and             outer surfaces: Close to 144C, distally, close to 144D and             proximally, close to 146D; with development, close to 144C,             distally, close to 145C and proximally, close to 146D.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have             not been observed on plants of the new Helleborus. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Helleborus have been observed     to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind, high     temperatures about 35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness     Zones 5 through 9. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Helleborus     have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common     to Helleborus plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Helleborus plant named ‘COSEH 5600’ as illustrated and described. 